Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 97:6
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
6. The heavens have declared his righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen his glory.
His faithfulness to His people and His sovereign justice in the punishment of evil have been openly and visibly manifested in the sight of all the world (Psa 98:3). Cp. Psa 50:6; Isa 35:2; Isa 40:5; Isa 52:10; Isa 66:18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The heavens declare his righteousness – See the notes at Psa 50:6. Compare the notes at Psa 19:1.
And all the people see his glory – As manifested in the heavens, and in the power which he puts forth on the earth. That is, (they have the opportunity of seeing it; it is made manifest in all his works. They see what in fact is a manifestation of his glory, to wit, his great and wondrous works. It is not affirmed that they appreciate all this, or that they see this to be a manifestation of his glory – which would not be true – but that they see what is in fact a revelation of his greatness, his wisdom, and his power.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. The heavens declare his righteousness] They also, in this poetic description, become intelligent beings, and proclaim the majesty and the mercy of the Most High. Metaphorically, they may be said to declare his glory. Their magnitude, number, revolutions, order, influence, and harmony, proclaim the wondrous skill, matchless wisdom, and unlimited power of the Sovereign of the universe. See Clarke on Ps 19:1, c.
And all the people see his glory.] Whatsoever God has made proclaims his eternal power and Godhead and who, from a contemplation of the work of his hands, can be ignorant of his being and providence?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The heavens; either,
1. The thunders, and lightnings, and tempests sent from heaven to plead his righteous cause against his enemies. Or,
2. The angels, yea, God himself from heaven, who gave manifest testimony to the righteousness of the Messias.
All the people see his glory; both Jews and Gentiles shall see and feel the glorious effects of his coming.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. heavensor, theirinhabitants (Ps 50:6), asopposed to “nations” in the latter clause (compare Isa 40:5;Isa 66:18).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The heavens declare his righteousness,…. His justice in punishing his enemies; the lightning and the thunder in the heavens, the tokens of his wrath, and instruments of it; his wrath itself, which is revealed from heaven, Ro 1:18, or the inhabitants of heaven, as Aben Ezra; the angels of heaven; so the Targum, “the angels on high (or of heaven, as in the king’s Bible) declare his righteousness”; see
Re 16:5, it is true of the ministers of the Gospel, who are Christ’s angels or messengers, men of heavenly gifts and grace, whose work it is to declare the justifying righteousness of Christ, which is revealed in the Gospel from faith to faith, and which is therefore called the word of righteousness, and the ministration of it, Ro 1:17,
and all the people see his glory; the glory of his justice in the destruction of his enemies; the glory of his power and grace in the salvation of his chosen; the glory of God in the face of Christ; the glory of Christ himself, as the only begotten of the Father; the glory of his person, office, grace, and righteousness, in the glass of the Gospel; the glory and honour he is now crowned with in heaven; and all the people, even all the chosen, redeemed, and called people, shall behold his glory to all eternity: it seems chiefly to respect the revelation of his glory, and his people’s view of it at his first coming; see Isa 60:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
6 The heavens have declared his righteousness Here he states that there would be such an illustrious display of the righteousness of God, that the heavens themselves would herald it. The meaning is not the same as in the beginning of the nineteenth psalm, “The heavens declare the glory of God,” etc. In that psalm David means no more than that the wisdom and power of God are as conspicuous in the fabric of the heavens, as if God should assert them with an audible voice. The meaning of the passage before us is, that the spiritual righteousness of God should be so signally manifested under the reign of Christ as to fill both heaven and earth. There is much force in this personification, in which the heavens, as if even they were penetrated with a sense of the righteousness of God, are represented as speaking of it. It is equally probable, however, that the heavens signify here the angels, who are contained in heaven, by the figure of metonomy or synecdoche, while, in the corresponding clause, instead of the earth being mentioned, he speaks of the peoples who dwell upon it. The angels may very properly be said to announce and celebrate the Divine glory.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) All the people.Rather, all the peoples. At length the world at large is convinced, by visible manifestations, of what Israel had recognised through the veil of darkness and cloud,the eternal righteousness of which all the splendours of the storm have been a witness. (See Note, Psa. 89:6.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. The heavens declare his righteousness “As far as the heavens extend, so far shall his righteousness be made known.” Tholuck. In the most public manner, before the universe, shall the rectitude of the Judge and Sovereign be proclaimed.
All the people see his glory So, in Psa 97:4, the “earth saw, and trembled.” The “glory” of the Lord is not only the power and majesty which attend his appearance, but especially the purity and righteousness of all his acts, whether of law or grace, judgment or mercy. This the nations of the world shall see and confess, whether they obey or rebel.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Lord frequently refers to all creation in evidence of the righteousness of his reign; and eminently so will this be proved at that final day, when all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Isa 40:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Ver. 6. The heavens declare his righteousness ] As so many Catholic preachers, Psa 19:1 ; Psa 50:4 ; Psa 50:6 . By heavens some understand angels, concurring with men to glorify God. Others, the heavenly bodies pleading God’s cause against atheists and idolaters. They that worshipped the sun were atheists by night; and they that worshipped the moon were atheists by day, as Cyril wittily.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
The heavens. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for Him who dwells there.
people = peoples.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
The heavens: Psa 19:1, Psa 36:5, Psa 36:6, Psa 50:6, Psa 89:2, Psa 89:5, Isa 1:2, Rev 19:2
all the: Psa 67:4, Psa 98:3, Num 14:21, 2Sa 22:47, Isa 6:3, Isa 45:6, Isa 60:2, Isa 60:3, Hab 2:14, Mat 6:9
Reciprocal: Psa 24:7 – King Psa 102:16 – he shall Isa 35:2 – they shall Zep 2:11 – and men Zec 9:9 – Rejoice Luk 2:31 – General Rom 3:25 – to declare
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 97:6. The heavens declare his righteousness It is as conspicuous and illustrious as the heavens themselves. Or the angels, yea, God himself gives testimony from heaven to the righteousness of Christ. And all the people see his glory Both Jews and Gentiles shall partake of the glorious fruits and benefits of his coming. Dr. Horne, however, interprets this verse differently, thus: The heavens, by the manifestation of vengeance from thence, reveal, declare, and proclaim the righteous judgments of Messiah; and all the people upon earth are witnesses of the glory of his victory over every thing that opposeth itself to the establishment of his kingdom.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
When He comes to reign, His messengers will announce His arrival (cf. Rev 19:11). Everyone will see Him descend (Zec 12:10; Rev 1:7). In view of this revelation, idol worshippers should realize their folly. The psalmist called all judges ("gods") to worship Yahweh. God’s people can rejoice because He will rule over all the earth one day. "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20)!